Annals of the Entomological Society of America (2005) 98, 726-731

T.-X. Liu (2005)
Biology and life history of Ascia monuste monuste (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), a potential pest of cruciferous vegetables
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 98 (5), 726-731
Abstract: Ascia monuste (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is a subtropical and tropical species with several subspecies and forms. In recent years, it has become a sporadic insect pest of crucifer vegetables in southern Texas. In some isolated fields, the gregarious larvae have completely consumed all aboveground parts of large cabbage or collard plants (leaves, petioles, and stems). To understand more about this subspecies, I studied its biology on cabbage, including the development of immature stages, the longevity of adults, and other parameters in the laboratory and the greenhouses. At 25 ± 2°C, developmental time averaged 4.7, 2.8, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 6.0, and 9.d d for eggs, first, second, third, fourth, fifth instars and pupae, respectively, yielding an average of 17.4 d for all larval stages and an average generation time of 31.7 d for both sexes. Adult longevity averaged 19.8 d for females and 16.3 d for males under greenhouse conditions. The sex ratio was 1:0.76 (females:males) or 56.8% females. Each egg cluster had an average of 43.2 eggs with a range of 1-245. Body lengths and head capsule widths for all five instars were well correlated with an r value of 0.9832. Based on the data from this study, I concluded that the life history parameters of the subspecies of A. monuste monuste are different from those of Ascia monuste orseis (Godard), another Neotropical subspecies.
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Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ascia monuste	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	U.S.A. (mid S)